- City:
- Yosemite National Park, CA
- Site Type:
- Fire Lookouts, Forestry and Agriculture, Fire Prevention Works
- New Deal Agencies:
- Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Conservation and Public Lands, Work Relief Programs, National Park Service (NPS)
- Started:
- 1934
- Completed:
- 1934
- Designer:
- John Coffman
- Quality of Information:
- Very Good
- Marked:
- No
- Site Survival:
- Extant
Description
The Henness Ridge Fire Tower was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1934. It was actively used until 1966, but is now empty.
The Henness Ridge Fire Tower was one of several fire protection buildings constructed in the Sierra under the guidance of John D. Coffman as a part of a comprehensive fire prevention plan developed in response to difficulties encountered during a 1928 fire near Sequoia National Park.
The Henness Ridge lookout is a fine example of the rustic architecture style developed by the National Park Service (fire towers outside the park are simpler steel and wood structures). It is a 3-story redwood structure built on a granite rubble masonry foundation. The bottom floor was a garage, with living quarters above on the second floor. The third story is a 13’ x 13’ observation cab with surrounding catwalk. An outside stairway wrapping around two sides of the building provides direct access to the catwalk and cab from ground level.
The tower was provided with fixed equipment consisting of three cupboards and an observation platform with a table. A flue chimney was also installed and plumbing consisted of one sink. The structure was insulated against lightning in accordance with Forest Service specifications for fire lookout towers.
Periodic maintenance work has retained the structural integrity and original appearance of the structure.
Source notes
https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/historyculture/upload/Henness-Ridge-Fire-Lookout.pdf
Site originally submitted by Andrew Laverdiere on October 23, 2017.
Additional contributions by John Broesamle.
At this Location:
- Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center (former) - Yosemite National Park CA
- Tuolumne Meadows Campground - Yosemite National Park CA
- Half Dome Climbing Cables Replacement - Yosemite National Park CA
- Tuolumne Meadows Campground Comfort Stations - Yosemite National Park CA
- General Improvements - Yosemite National Park CA
- Trail Improvement and Restoration - Yosemite National Park CA
- Ostrander Ski Hut - Yosemite National Park CA
- Yosemite Valley (Pines) Campgrounds Reconstruction - Yosemite National Park CA
- Seasonal and Stub CCC Camps - Yosemite National Park CA
- Tuolumne River Bridge - Yosemite National Park CA
- Fern Spring - Yosemite National Park CA
- Big Oak Flat Road - Yosemite National Park CA
- CCC Camp Cascades (demolished) - Yosemite National Park CA
- Mariposa Grove Road Paving - Yosemite National Park CA
- Badger Pass Ski Area Development - Yosemite National Park CA
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